Dear Sir,
I would apppreciate very much if someone can help me in the below problem.
Thanks.

Tom and John were jogging along a circular track surrounding a pond. The track measured 640 m. If they started from the same place and jogged in the same direction, Tom would take 16 minutes to catch up with John. If they jogged in the opposite direction, they would meet every 4 minutes. How long did Tom take to jog one round of the track?

September 3rd 2011, 07:58 AM

ArcherSam

1 Attachment(s)

Re: challenging rate problem

@kingman

My GUESS(i'm not completely sure):

Algebraically:
640meters; Distance or circumference of the track
4mintues; How much time passes when Tom is passed by John
640meters/4mintues = 120meters; Distance Tom travels when he is passed by John
640meters/120meters = 8laps; Number of 120m segments
8laps * 4mintues = 32minutes; How much time it takes Tom to complete the track

Can you explain how you reason out that Tom must jog 1 lap (640 m) more than John before catching up.
They started at the same point ( for eg point A) and I wonder whether they meet at same point A after 16 mins.
thanks

September 3rd 2011, 05:31 PM

Wilmer

Re: challenging rate problem

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingman

thanks but is'nt 6.4 mins equals 6 mins and 24 secs.

Yes, my bad; edited.

September 3rd 2011, 05:40 PM

Wilmer

Re: challenging rate problem

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingman

Can you explain how you reason out that Tom must jog 1 lap (640 m) more than John before catching up.
They started at the same point ( for eg point A) and I wonder whether they meet at same point A after 16 mins.
thanks

I agree that it's difficult to see if they're both moving. But if you use the standard trick of letting John stand still the whole time and Tom run at the rate of T-J, where T is Tom's speed and J is John's, then Tom will complete a lap at this new speed in 16 minutes, giving 16(T-J)=640.

You also know that if you combine their speeds, they do a lap in 4 minutes, so 4(T+J)=640.

September 4th 2011, 06:04 AM

Wilmer

Re: challenging rate problem

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoblawsLawBlog

But if you use the standard trick...

Agree LLB; however, I feel it is better for someone to first understand...then use shortcuts...